Ryan Wilson said Jalen Walker has surged into legitimate top-10 territory and could easily be the Panthers’ choice at No. 8. Wilson moved Walker up 13 spots on his final board after NFL coaches fell in love with the Georgia defender’s rare versatility: three-year tape shows he can play off-ball linebacker and kick out to the edge with equal effectiveness. Walker posted 11.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss while flashing plus athleticism and high-end character that several teams value. Wilson noted that positional value originally kept Walker lower, but his ability to fill two premium roles and fit multiple schemes has teams drafting in the 8-11 range “really high” on him. Bettors targeting top-10 or team-specific draft props should factor in that late helium.

Matt Youmans said the Raiders will likely shift to Georgia edge‑rusher Jalon Walker at No. 6 if Ashton Jeanty is snatched away at No. 5. Walker is the 7‑1 third choice in the sixth‑overall market, yet Youmans noted that Las Vegas desperately needs a pass‑rush boost and new GM Tom Telesco has historically leaned toward explosive defensive athletes in Round 1. Because books tightened most draft props this year, Youmans likes the relative value on Walker compared with the shorter +250 attached to Missouri tackle Armand Membou. He recommended grabbing the 7‑1 before any draft‑day steam hits the number.

Jonathan Jones predicted Carolina will grab Georgia hybrid defender Jalen Walker at No. 8, calling the pass‑rush need "screamingly obvious" after the club traded away Brian Burns and whiffed in free agency. Jones said Walker used to be labelled a tweener, but modern coordinators crave that kind of position‑flex and Walker blew teams away in interviews, scoring "high‑character" marks on every visit. The Panthers' analytics department reportedly flagged Walker’s 18.6% pressure rate and 4.48 forty at 245 lbs as elite outliers. Jones believes Ejiro Evero will deploy him off the edge on early downs and slide him into a rover role on sub‑packages, giving Walker a pathway to Defensive Rookie of the Year buzz. Draft bettors can still find Walker +175 to be the first defensive player selected, a number Jones thinks is mis‑priced if Carolina stays put.

Thor Nystrom said steam has made Jalen Walker the hottest name on draft boards and now expects Carolina to snag him at pick No.8. Walker— a 6‑1, 245‑pound hybrid edge/off‑ball linebacker from the Carolinas—checks multiple Panther needs after their front‑seven ranked bottom‑five in pressure rate and run‑stop win rate. Nystrom highlighted Walker’s tape against SEC tackles, his sideline‑to‑sideline range when used as a spy, and his 40‑45% projected edge snaps that give Ejiro Evero formation flexibility. Walker had been mocked 27th just a month ago, but local ties and Carolina’s history of keeping homegrown prospects (e.g., Xavier Legette) pushed his odds inside the top 10. Thor advised bettors to grab any Panthers‑Walker combo props still showing double‑digit pricing because books are finally reacting to the surge.